The Apprentice - keeping the winner secret

[buildersmate]

The eliminating programmes up to including the cruise were clearly filmed last summer/autumn. Was the final filmed less than a month ago, to help maintain the secret of the winner? Possible evidence - fresh leaves on the trees? Sharon's tan? Michelle had forgotten how much some contestants fight with each other?

[Mr D Black]

No, the final episode was clearly filmed in the autumn (see leaves on trees, also copy of daily mirror dated 14th oct, in the previous task). I think the You're fired programmes are filmed now, explaining why some of the contestants look a bit different.

[chazza]

It was filmed 6 months ago - Michele has been working for Alan Sugar for 6 months - not sure whether he was helping her with her own company or she was working for his though.

[iankirby]

I understand that both Ruth and Michelle were working for Sir Alan for the past 6 months in separate divisions and it was this performance which went towards the final decision.

I also understand that the final interview and decision was made on Tuesday of this week, the day before transmission.

Ian

[SurreyGuy]

So why was that not conveyed in the prog?

[kempie]

Two endings were filmed 6 months ago to allow the final choice to be made in the interim.

[purpose]

Now i don't know which answer to believe!

[buildersmate]

What Ian says makes absolute sense to me. I couldn't fathom out how Sir A could make a decision in the autumn, this not leak out and yet the future Apprentice not start work until after the showing of the programme last night. For Michelle to have started work before would have leaked the answer and what's the poor girl supposed to do for the last 6 months. To have both of them working over the last 6 months makes sense. Thanks.

[AreebaAreeba]

I thought that the boardrom scene from last night, when SAS said 'Michelle, you're hired' seemed to be filmed at the same sort of time as the final task, i.e. last autumn. If that is the case, then why would Ruth and Michelle both be working for Sir Alan?

Other rumours say they filmed two endings but I cannot see how this would work. How would they expect the loser to pretend she had won just so they could film her reaction. This doesn't seem like it would work. And if you check out the website of the PR company used for The Apprentice:

http://www.taylorherring.com/apprentice_case.h tml

... you'll see that they in order to maintain press interest throughout the run part of their plan of action is 'To simultaneously court the mainstream entertainment press while feeding stories and placing features into the business and city pages'

I think most of it is pure rumour to keep the interest levels high, and it seems to work!

[kempie]

The two filmed endings is not a rumour - Michelle and Ruth confirmed it during an interview on "This Morning". There was no pretence required since neither of them knew who had won until Tuesday and while they were in limbo they were both being employed by AMS.

[spinchimp]

And this is exactly what happened with the first series.

[Rod Serling]

Has anybody heard how Tim (the first series winner) is getting on? I missed that documentary about him when this new series started so I guess that said it all.

What has his role been within Amstrad and has it been a success?

[chrisuk013]

Tim continues to work for Amstrad after fulfilling his initial year-long contract with the company as The Apprentice winner. He had to head up a new health and beauty division and was tasked with the re-launch of an electronic anti-wrinkle device. Apart from working for Sir Alan, Tim has been in much demand as a mentor, giving motivational talks to school children. He says he didn't just become The Apprentice, but "won a whole new life".

[AreebaAreeba]

Wow. Two endings. It seems bizarre to me to do that, and why not make it clear to the audience that the decision is based around their work over six months as well as the final task rather than pretending it is all based on the event in Tower Bridge. It would be better accepted I feel.

Also, their reactions seemed very good for what would still have been a 'fake' revelation of the winner. They must both have had to show a reaction of jubilation and the inevitable grr-secretly-gutted-but-will-congratulate-you-anyway face of the loser.

I want to see the Badger's winning face.